Now that Oklahoma football has gone dark again, with the completion of the spring practice period and the conventional academic year nearing the finish line, its pretty much up to the media and the fans to stoke the fires that keep thoughts and talk of college football alive and relevant until the start of a new season.
There are those who would argue – and compellingly, I hasten to add – that college football is not a seasonal sport that takes place just during the changing of the seasons from summer to and through autumn.
Fall is when the actual games take place, but the offseason activity, which extends well beyond the traditional four-month season, is when everything takes place that actually shaped the kind of season a team will have from year to year.
For the schools who are fortunate to get there, the postseason is followed by the homestretch of the recruiting season which culminates several weeks later with National Signing Day. Then you have a specified number of days, typically in March or March into April, designated as an official spring practice period, usually capped off by an annual spring game or controlled scrimmage, which is open to the public and offers a quick glimpse for fans at what they can look forward to over the long, hot summer months.
Thus, the beginning of the so-called dark period between spring practice and the start of preseason practice in August. Truth is, though, that there is never really a period of total absence when it comes to college football being in the news.
The next event, as far as keeping the fires stoked and sustaining fan interest in the evolving state of college football, is the NFL Draft later this month, when will find out the fate of several former Oklahoma stars who aspire to fulfill their childhood dreams and are afforded the opportunity to extend their football career by playing at the next level.
While we certainly wish Sterling Shepard, Eric Striker and the others all the best as they move on up the ladder, what those of us who are Sooner football lifers are most interested in is what kind of team Oklahoma will bring back in 2016.
With the exception of a few isolated off-years in head coach Bob Stoops’ 17 seasons at Oklahoma, on-the-field success has been more than simply an annual goal for Sooner football, it is a fixture in the program’s mission statement.
Oklahoma has won outright or shared eight Big 12 championships under Stoops, won a national championship and played in three other national championship games. Last season, the Sooners became the first Big 12 school to take part in four-team College Football Playoff, the new format that now determines which school takes home the national crown for that season.
The bad news looking forward is that it is extremely difficult every year to become one of the four teams that gets the opportunity to play for the national championship. The good news, from an Oklahoma perspective, is that the Sooners are loaded with talent again this season and have as good a chance, if not better, to put together another championship-level season.
Of course, it takes much more than just talent to win football games and do so with consistency over a competitive, 12-game schedule. It takes good fortune along with good coaching, the ability to capitalize on the opponents mistakes and, of course, avoiding injuries to key personnel.
All things being equal, though, here are five reasons Sooner fans should be in a can’t-wait mode for 2016 Oklahoma football:
Run Game Talent Runs Deep
Everybody knows what Samaje Perine can do, and last season Joe Mixon showed what he is capable of, bringing the lightning to Perine’s thunder. The dynamic duo combined for right at 2,000 rushing yards 23 rushing TDs. Mixon also was the team’s fourth leading receiver, with 26 receptions for 356 yards and four touchdowns. Perine is only 1,056 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns shy of tying the career records of Heisman Trophy winners Billy Sims (4,118 rushing yards) and Steve Owens (57 rushing TDs).
In 2016, the OU run game will be reinforced with a pair of additional running backs who have some giddy-up and an extra gear in their step, as well. Senior Daniel Brooks rushed for 53 yards in the Spring Game last weekend, and the Sooner coaches are very high on speedy redshirt freshman Rodney Anderson, who was injured in the Tennessee game last season and forced to sit out the rest of the season. And don’t forget that Alex Ross, who has primarily been used as a kick returner the last couple of seasons, is big and fast and highly capable at the running back position.
Heisman-Caliber Quarterback Who Makes Plays
Their is little question that Baker Mayfield was the perfect fit for offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense. The scrappy 6-1 quarterback who was a walk-on at Texas Tech as a freshman before transferring to Oklahoma after his freshman season, had an outstanding season a year ago as the Sooners’ starting QB, throwing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was third in the nation in completion percentage (68 percent) and passing efficiency (173.3).
Mayfield is not only dangerous as an effective passer, but also keeps plays alive with his legs and running ability. He rushed for 405 yards in 2015. The one question is: Can he stay healthy for a full season with his never-quit, aggressive makeup. Likely backup, Austin Kendall, has been impressive in spring workouts but is just a freshman and has never taken a snap in a college game.
Secondary That Has Grown Up
All-Big 12 cornerback Zack Sanchez has turned his sights to an NFL career, opting out of his final season at OU. Nevertheless, the Sooners remain strong at the back end of the defense with returning starters Steven Parker and Ahmad Thomas at safety and Jordan Thomas at one of the cornerback slots. Senior Dakota Austin and P.J. Mbanasor are competing for the corner spot opposite Jordan Thomas. Austin saw a lot of playing time last season when Sanchez was injured, but Mbanasor is showing excellent progress in only his second season.
The game action that this group has seen together and the valuable experience they have gained the last couple of year should serve them well. With three-quarters of this secondary in place a year ago, the Sooners led the Big 12 in pass defense and were 34th in the nation in that category.
One of Best Coaching Staffs in the Business
Bob Stoops not only is the winningest coach in OU football history but also ranks fourth among active head coaches in college football in terms of career wins. In the 17 seasons he has been at Oklahoma, the Sooners have put together 12 seasons with 10 or more wins and five with 12 or more victories.
Mike Stoops returned to Oklahoma as assistant coach and defensive coordinator in 2012. His 2013 defense was No. 1 in the conference in stopping the run, and last season the Sooners led the league in pass defense, scoring defense and total defense.
Last season Lincoln Riley, one of the brightest, young offensive minds in college football, joined the Oklahoma coaching staff, and his Air Raid offense revamped a Sooner offense that had become somewhat stagnant and inconsistent prior to his arrival in Norman.
Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks are among the country’s top assistants at those positions, and former Oklahoma star Calvin Thibodeaux has returned to his alma mater to coach the defensive line.
Cale Gundy. Gundy has been with Bob Stoops since 1999. The former Sooner quarterback coached the running backs for 16 seasons, in addition to serving as director or recruiting. Among his prized pupils at running back for the Sooners are Adrian Peterson, DeMarco Murray and Samaje Perine currently. Gundy is currently coaching the inside receivers
No-Name Receiving Corps? No Problem
When you lose the No. 2 player on the career pass-receiving list, there is always going to be cause for concern. Sterling Shepard has been the go-to Sooner receiver for the past couple of seasons. The First Team All-Big 12 wide receiver ranks behind Ryan Broyles and just ahead of Mark Clayton for all-time pass-receiving yardage at Oklahoma. That is lofty company.
Shepard and Durron Neal accounted for two-thirds of the Sooners per-game receiving yardage last season. Both have completed their eligibility, leaving the question: Who is going to fill that void in the coming season? The truth is, the Sooners should be just fine. To start with, the team’s second leading receiver last season, Dede Westbrook, is back for another season.
Thirteen different receivers caught passes in the annual Red-White Spring Game, led by Westbrook, Michiah Quick and A.D. Miller with four apiece. The coaching staff is also high on tight-end Mark Andrews, who caught seven touchdown passes last season, along with Jordan Smallwood, Jeffrey Mead and Penn State transfer Geno Lewis.
All are being counted on to make contributions on the field next fall, and don’t forget about Joe Mixon’s pass-catching ability out of the backfield.
It might be more of a receiver-by-committee approach, but there are plenty of highly capable targets to choose from and, importantly, an outstanding quarterback and team leader in Baker Mayfield to get the ball to them.